I chewed on one of the wurst I had made for Italy as I walked back to my room, he could survive with one less. He thinks they're horrible anyway, so it won't be that much of a loss.

I really do hate how he always criticizes my food, it's better than England's and I don't make things like Russia. I would consider myself a decent cook!

I was going to make him pasta, but the mental image of tomato sauce all over my bed was too hard to shake. I ended up with wurst, it was stocked, simple and I could make it with my eyes closed.

I shoved the rest of the wurst I had been eating into my mouth, pausing for a moment by my door. Once I heard Italy's light snores, I squeezed through the crack I had left open. A small smile crossed my lips as I saw the Italian sprawled across my bed on his stomach, his towel miraculously still clinging to his waist. I contemplated waking him or not for a few seconds before lightly shaking his shoulder.

"Italy?"

I watched him as he groaned, turning his head to face mine and opening his eyes a sliver. I almost laughed as his nose twitched and his eyes opened the rest of the way.

"Food?" he questioned, sitting upright.

I pulled the plate back from his greedy hands.

"Go get on some pants, then you can have some."

"Do I have too?"

"If you want food, you do."

With an annoyed glance, Italy jumped up and bolted off of my bed. He really does act like a dog, now that I think about it.

I lazily looked towards the door with a smile. I felt my face heat up though as I noticed the towel laying on my floor.

I raced down the hall to my room, the smell of food still burning my nose. My stomach let out a low growl, causing me to hold it. I rounded the corner, letting out a small yelp as I practically knocked into a now distraught Japan.

"ITALY! Why are you naked?" Japan cried out, quickly shielding his eyes.

"Well, I guess I misplaced my towel when I was in Germany's room. He offered me some of his sausage, and you know how I'll devour anything if I'm hu-"

"What!" Japan squeaked, cutting me off, mouth hanging open.

"Oh, you don't get it?" I asked, thinking for a few more seconds before pointing to my mouth, "I want Germany's sausage in my mouth,"

"E-Excuse me!" he spilled out, "I-I-I, uhm, I have to go."

Tracing the wall with one hand, Japan set off the way I had came.

What was up with him? He's been a little bit off since Germany came back, more reserved.

Oh, right! Pants! I had almost forgotten.

I quickly turned and went back on my mission to my room. I turned another corner and burst through my doors. The room was basically untouched, the only thing that seemed used was my suitcase with clothes splayed out on the floor. I had been sleeping, showering, reading, etc in Germany's room, not my own. The sheets were the same as I had when I first arrived, untouched.

Even when Germany wasn't here, I had still slept in his room. It reminded me of him when I missed him, if that makes any sense. Japan is great company, but sometimes I just need a Doit-su hug...

I fell to my knees and quickly shuffled my clothes around pulling out the first pant-shaped things I got a hold of. I pulled on my swimming trunks as I stood up and raced to the door. Germany never said anything about a shirt, only pants. In that case, he still has to give me food when I get back!

I retraced my steps to Germany's room, not bothering to pause and knock on the door. I scrambled onto the bed beside him, his ankles crossed and the plate in his lap.

"Can I have some now?" I pleaded, legs sprawled out, hands holding me upright.

"Those," Germany said, pointing to my swim shorts, "Are definitely not pants and you are not wearing a shirt either,"

"These are pant-esque," I whined, scooting closer, "And you never said anything about a shirt, just pants!"

"Go put some actual pants and a shirt on," Germany smiled, ruffling my hair, "You can have the rest once you do."

"But, I'm so hungry," I cried out, clutching my stomach as I rolled onto my back, head landing in Germany's lap, "Feed me, Doit-su!"

Germany had raised the plate of wurst out of his lap before my head had hit it, an indecisive expression on his face. I opened my mouth and stared up at him expectantly until he let out a sigh and held a sausage above my mouth.

"You have to put on some normal pants at some point today, though,"

I nodded a couple times eagerly as he dropped the wurst into my mouth. I chewed fast, sighing at the juice as it swished around my mouth every time I bite down. Normally, I would find this disgusting, but when you're hungry, you'll be surprised at what can seem delicious.

I opened my mouth again as soon as I swallowed. Germany picked another wurst from the plate as he set it down on the bedside table. He bit half of it off, putting the other half into my mouth.

"These are so delicious," I cooed, closing my eyes to better savour the taste.

"You're just saying that because you're starving," Germany snorted, as he split another wurst in half.

"No, no!" I said, opening one eye and my mouth. I chewed the half Germany just placed in my mouth as fast as I could, swallowing after a few seconds, "I mean it! Anything you make for the both of us tastes good,"

I smiled up at him as he grunted a response, turning away with a flustered face.

"You look so weird when you blush," I giggled, raising my hands up to grab his cheeks, "You're face gets so hot, too."

I squished his face into different shapes and our eyes locked. I let my feet squirm and a smile crossed my lips. Germany looked like a fish right now! A thick stream of giggles came out of my mouth, my hands pulling his face a bit closer.

"What?" Germany questioned, concern lining his features.

"You look like a fish," I giggled almost incoherently, "A very serious fish,"

"Oh shut it," Germany smirked, taking a wurst and shoving it into my mouth to try and silence my giggles.

I tried to eat it, but my mouth just hung open, sides hurting, eyes closing.

"Italy, you look like an idiot," he laughed, voice deep, meshing with my own.

I turned and shoved my face into his abdomen, starting to shake a bit.

"Y-You look like a f-fish," I sputtered, a new round of laughs hitting me.

I wiped a few tears falling from my eyes away, taking a couple deep breaths before smiling back up at Germany. I loved being able to talk to him like this! It's one of the reasons why I love to call him my best friend. That's why it hurt so much when I heard him call me- oh goodness.

I felt my face fall.

"Something wrong?" Germany questioned, "You've stopped smiling,"

"Uh," I started, stopping just as quickly.

I really do need to talk to him about this, I mean I can't just hold this in. When England told me Germany hated me, I immediately went to talk to him about it. How come I can't do that now? Is it because I heard it right from him, so I know it has to be true? I could have just misheard him, I didn't pick up all of the conversation. This is probably just a huge misunderstanding, so why do I still feel like crying?

I bit my lip, trying to suppress a few tears building in my eyes.

"Tell me, Italy," Germany demanded, pulling me up to a sitting position by my shoulders, "Before you start blubbering, again,"

I opened my mouth again, freezing as the fear of Germany confirming that I am "useless" acted like a plug in my throat.

"I-I-I," I forced out of my mouth, "I-I mi-miss?"

MISS! Oh crap, I am going to end up lying aren't I? I am so bad at lying, though! Germany's going to find out and he is so going to punish me, worse than when he banned pasta from Japan's and his house for a month.

I let out a sob, he is going to kill me! I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for some screaming.

"Keep going," Germany urged, fingers loosening their grip on my shoulders.

I opened my eyes, gaping at him.

Why is he being so nice? Oh and here I am, lying to him.

"You miss, something. What do you miss?" He questioned, letting his thumb smear a tear rolling out of my eye.

I stared at him, lip quivering.

I miss when you still thought I wasn't useless. I miss my best friend when he keeps leaving me for weeks. I miss when all the time was like how it's been the past two days.

"I miss spending time with you," I whispered, my lips barely moving.

"Who?" Germany asked, confused before his eyes opened and his mouth formed an o, "Your mama? I should have known, you've been talking about her quite a bit. I'm sorry Italy, I should have realized! And here I was, encouraging conversation on that topic! I know how it feels to lose family, yourself, someone you love."

My lips quiver, he didn't hear me.

His arms moved from my shoulders to around my chest, holding me in a fairly awkward hug.

I'm an idiot for not figuring it out sooner! During the food fight, I might as well have just screamed "Ha, your mama is dead!"!

I felt like hitting myself in the head, but instead I gave Italy a quick reassuring squeeze before pulling him back to face me. His eyes were a bit glazed, nose sniffling. He looked like a mess and I felt even worse than before.

"I'm sorry Italy," I tried to smile, "I wish there was someth- Wait a minute."

I stared at his confused face, letting a smile snake across my face.

"I know exactly what will make you feel better,"

"Wh-What?"

"That, will be a surprise," I smiled, knowing how much of a hate/love relationship Italy had with surprises.

Oh, this is perfect! This will make him feel so much better.

"For now though, get some sleep and by tomorrow night I'll get it to you," I smiled, ruffling his hair as I stood up, "I would suggest getting on something better than those swim trunks to sleep in."

"But it's so early!" Italy whined.

"That's no-" I glance at the clock and shut my mouth. It was only around two. My room's windows were covered with black curtains, making the only source of light in the room the lamp beside my bed, making it almost impossible to tell time, "Just have a quick siesta then, by the time you wake up, you'll feel a lot better. It's been a busy day, with training, our fight, some chatting with Japan and your breakdown. This will help quite a bit, I promise."

Italy nodded, I returned the gesture quickly before taking my leave. I was going to have to go do some research if I wanted to figure this out by tomorrow. The library would be best. The Italian one, that is. First, I'll get confirmation from my higher-ups for a trip, then I will book tickets for the three of us to Italy. I'll take a quick peak at the Japanese library today, but I am quite certain what I am looking for won't be there.

I passed Japan's room, knocking briefly before the door opened to reveal a confused Japan.

"I am booking tickets tomorrow for Italy, I suggest packing,"

"I-I can't go to Italy!"

"What?" I asked, giving him a confused look of my own.

"I won't be allowed on such notice! Can it be done next month?" Japan fussed.

"No, I am afraid not. If you are unable, I would assume just Italy and I are going by ourselves then, yes?" I sighed heavily, this is going to be interesting.

"I ap-pologize, it's just too short notice!"

"It's fine."

I nodded, exchanging a farewell with Japan before heading down the hall.

It might be better this way, I haven't done too many full day things with just Italy in a while. He might just need a day away from all the stress of this war, I sure as hell know I do. I pinched the nerve between my nose as I picked up my jacket. There is so much to do, can I even afford to let this time go?

I shake my head, slipping my coat on as I stepped outside. It wasn't cold, neither was it warm; a happy medium. Still, it was better safe than sorry considering I'm not expecting to be back until the sun is already down, I have a lot to try to find.